Teaching Flying Lead Changes: Breaking Down the Process

Flying lead changes—one of the most impressive maneuvers in horseback riding—are a hallmark of skilled riders and well-trained horses. These seamless, mid-stride changes from one lead to another can elevate your performance in disciplines like reining, show jumping, dressage, and western pleasure. But as majestic as they look, flying lead changes are not an innate skill for most horses. It takes time, patience, and clear communication to teach your horse this advanced movement.

So, what’s the secret to successfully teaching flying lead changes? Breaking down the process into manageable steps and laying the proper foundation first. In this guide, we’ll explore the key steps to teach your horse flying lead changes and provide tips on common mistakes to avoid. Whether you’re working with a young horse or refining your seasoned partner’s skills, these steps will help you achieve smooth, effortless lead changes in no time.

What is a Flying Lead Change?

A flying lead change is a maneuver in which a horse changes from one canter lead to the other, mid-stride, without breaking gait. In simpler terms, it’s when the horse shifts its leading front leg while maintaining a fluid and continuous canter. This requires balance, coordination, and precision from the horse—and clear, consistent communication from the rider.

Flying lead changes are often taught in western disciplines such as reining, cutting, and western pleasure, but they are also important in English disciplines, like show jumping, eventing, and dressage. In both cases, the goal is to maintain smoothness and balance during the change, which makes this skill not only a useful tool in competition but also an important foundation for overall performance.

Prerequisites for Teaching Flying Lead Changes

Before attempting to teach your horse flying lead changes, there are a few key skills that both you and your horse must have mastered. If your horse is not yet comfortable with these basics, it may be best to focus on these first.

1. A Solid, Balanced Canter

Your horse should be comfortable and balanced in the canter before attempting flying lead changes. This means they need to be able to canter easily on both leads without resistance or unease.

2. Understanding of Simple Lead Changes

A simple lead change (also known as a “disunited change”) involves breaking the canter and then picking up the new lead after a brief transition to a trot or walk. Mastering this maneuver first helps the horse understand the concept of changing leads.

3. Responsiveness to Rider Cues

Your horse must be responsive to your cues, especially when asking for changes in direction. Being able to shift from one rein to another, as well as make turns or changes in bend, is crucial for smooth flying lead changes.

Step-by-Step Guide to Teaching Flying Lead Changes

Step 1: Prepare with Simple Lead Changes

Start by ensuring your horse understands simple lead changes. These are usually performed with a transition to trot between the leads.

How to do it:
1. Pick up the canter on one lead (e.g., left lead).
2. Ask for the change by applying a slight inside leg to cue the horse to shift leads, while simultaneously shifting your weight and using your outside rein to control the horse’s head and neck.
3. Transition to trot after the change, then pick up the new lead (e.g., right lead).
4. Repeat this exercise until your horse becomes comfortable with the concept of lead changes.

This exercise will help your horse understand the cues and get used to the feeling of shifting leads, even with the brief transition to a trot.

Step 2: Introduce Counter Canter

The counter canter is the opposite of the lead the horse is naturally on, and it is a great preparation for flying lead changes.

How to do it:
1. Ask your horse to canter on the opposite lead of the direction you’re turning. For example, canter on the right lead while turning left.
2. Keep the horse balanced and straight as much as possible, with soft reins and proper leg aids.
3. Maintain the counter canter for a few circles, then switch back to the regular lead.

The counter canter helps the horse develop more balance and strength, making it easier to execute a flying lead change later.

Step 3: Introduce the Flying Lead Change

Once your horse has a good grasp of simple lead changes and counter cantering, you can start introducing the flying lead change. This is the moment when you’ll want to ask for the change mid-stride without breaking the gait.

How to do it:
1. Start by cantering in one direction (e.g., left lead).
2. Cue for the flying change by shifting your weight to the outside, applying pressure with your inside leg, and asking the horse to bend slightly in the opposite direction.
3. Give a subtle aid with your outside leg (slightly behind the girth) to encourage the hindquarters to step under the horse, aiding the lead change.
4. Stay relaxed and focused on maintaining the canter, giving light rein aids, and ensuring smooth transitions.
5. Repeat on both leads, reinforcing each successful flying change.

Focus on keeping your cues light, and be patient. Your horse will learn to associate your weight shifts and leg aids with the flying change motion.

Step 4: Increase the Precision and Speed

Once your horse begins to understand the flying lead change, you can start refining the maneuver for smoothness and precision.

How to do it:
1. Continue practicing in both directions, gradually asking for the change at more precise moments—during a specific spot in the circle or in a straight line.
2. Add more speed and energy to the canter to simulate competition conditions, ensuring the change remains seamless and balanced.
3. Be sure to reward every correct response with praise and light rein contact to reinforce the behavior.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

As with any advanced maneuver, there are a few common mistakes that riders encounter when teaching flying lead changes. Here’s how to address them:

Horse crosses its legs instead of changing leads:
- This can happen if the horse is not balanced or is not engaging its hindquarters. Work on strengthening the horse’s hind end through exercises like lateral movements and cavaletti work to improve balance and coordination.
Horse fails to maintain the canter after the change:
- If the horse is breaking gait, they may be confused about the aids or not yet strong enough to maintain canter at the required pace. Go back to simpler lead changes or transitions to reinforce their understanding and strength.
Rider loses balance during the lead change:
- Keep your core engaged and avoid leaning too far forward or backward. Position your body correctly by sitting deep in the saddle and following the horse’s motion with your hips.
The change feels “jerky”:
- A jerky change is usually a sign of miscommunication. Revisit the simple lead change and counter canter exercises, ensuring your aids are clear and smooth.

Conclusion

Teaching your horse to perform flying lead changes is an exciting and rewarding process that requires time, patience, and consistency. By first laying the foundation with simple lead changes and counter cantering, then progressing to more advanced exercises, you can achieve smooth, precise lead changes that will greatly enhance your riding experience.

Remember, the key is clear communication with your horse and ensuring they are balanced, responsive, and confident in their movements. By breaking down the process step by step, you’ll soon be able to perform flying lead changes with ease, improving both your and your horse’s performance in the arena.